3. Statement by the Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales, and Trefnydd: Future Farming Policy and the Sustainable Farming Scheme

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:52 pm on 21 September 2021.

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Photo of Cefin Campbell Cefin Campbell Plaid Cymru 2:52, 21 September 2021

(Translated)

Well, Plaid Cymru also welcomes this statement and the opportunity to discuss and scrutinise the proposals for the reform of farming in Wales, which will have the greatest long-term impact on the agricultural sector for a generation. Plaid Cymru, of course, welcomes the schemes that provide economic stability and also sustainability in terms of the environment for farmers. But without detailed proposals on how much farmers will be paid for sustainable farming plans, and without any detailed impact assessments, it's perhaps too soon to say what impact these plans will have. But, we will have to work together, as you've said, across the sector and with farmers to help them to achieve the aim of being net-zero carbon emitters.

So, similar to the question that Sam Kurtz has asked, the statement confirms that the Welsh Government intends to bring basic payments to an end in 2023 and start a new scheme in 2025. So, there is a bit of uncertainty about how farmers are going to sustain their livelihoods during 2024. And you referred to the fact that this depends, to a great extent, on funding received from the Westminster Government. So, I do want to ask again about certainty and what back-up plans you have to sustain farmers during that particular year before the new scheme starts.

To move on to another point, in your Government's response to the consultation summary, you stated that there was a transition period over a number of years to enable farmers to transfer from the basic payment scheme to a sustainable farming scheme. Now, of course, we need a fair transition period to ensure sustainability, and, in England, I understand that that is a period of around seven years. Will the Minister outline how long she foresees the transition period lasting in Wales? For how long will the basic payment continue, and over what period will the payment be decreased in order to move towards the more environmental schemes? And will she publish the analysis and division of this transition period before publishing the agriculture Bill next year?